City of Darwin is inviting the Karama community to roll up their sleeves and join a community planting event at Robyn Lesley Park on Saturday 20 September 2025, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. 

As part of the City’s Place and Liveability Plan and aligned with the Greening Darwin Strategy and Climate Emergency Strategy, this project will see the creation of a new native garden bed designed to enhance amenity, shading, cooling, and biodiversity in the area. 

City of Darwin CEO Simone Saunders said the initiative responds to feedback received through the extensive community consultation undertaken for the Place and Liveability Plan. 

“Karama was identified as a suburb that would benefit from improved liveability outcomes, and this project is one way we are delivering on that,” Ms Saunders said. 

“By involving the community in planting out the garden, we’re also building a sense of stewardship and connection to the space. This is about creating cooler, greener, more vibrant places for people to enjoy.” 

The event is open to all members of the community, with free barista coffee and morning tea provided for volunteers. Participants are encouraged to wear a hat and enclosed shoes for their safety and comfort. City of Darwin will provide gloves, sunscreen, and cold water on the day, and staff will be on hand to provide advice on caring for native gardens at home. 

In addition to taking part in the planting, community members are encouraged to complete a short survey after the planting via City of Darwin’s Liveability Platform. The survey is part of ongoing efforts to understand and improve the liveability of Darwin’s suburbs and to evaluate the impact of pilot projects like this one. 

Post-event, on-site signage will share the story of how the garden was established through community involvement, and highlight the cultural, bush tucker and wildlife values of the native plant species selected. 

To learn more about this and other pilot projects, visit the City of Darwin Liveability Platform.